Grit??

[Chicken Lizzle]

I have 6 week old chicks and they are in a coop that has a dirt floor with pine shavings, should i buy grit, get river sand, or does the dirt have what they need for grit? They are pecking at the ground and appear to be "eating" the dirt.

 

[underground chickenman]

You don't need grit at all if they are only consuming commercial starter crumbles. If you give them treats, such as greens, fruit, insects or other food that will not readily dissolve without "chewing", they need grit. Personally, I think dirt or sand is too small even for chicks unless the grains are pretty course. You can either buy grit specially for chicks at a feed store or Tractor Supply, or parakeet grit from a pet store. I would buy one pack of either to start with so you can see what size you should give them. If you then have that size available on your property or in the sand or dirt you provide, that will probably work fine.

UGCM

 

[Chicken Lizzle]

Quote:
Thank you! One more question.
Do you put it in a seperate bowl or mix it with their feed??